Track and field: Luther North athletes run to save the school

The Luther North track and field teams are trying to save their school the best way they know how &#8212; by running.

Luther North, a 100-year-old school of 210 students on Chicago's Northwest Side, announced in late March that it must raise $1.8 million dollars in a month in order to remain open next school year.

The track teams, numbering 35 athletes, will do their parts this week when they run in a 24-hour "track-a-thon." Participants will run a lap and pass a baton to the next runner continuously from 4 p.m. Wednesday to 4 p.m. Thursday.

The students are collecting pledges per lap, and the goal is for the group to run 800 laps.

"It's something our kids can do and feel a part of the fundraising process," said Luther North athletic director David Grim, who is in his 29th year as a cross-country and track coach at the school. "Kids can't always donate money, so this gives them a chance to contribute. They were pretty excited and feel challenged to see if they can get pledges."

Grim said Luther North doesn't have a regular class schedule on Thursday, which will allow the students time to complete their goal.

At the same time, the softball and baseball teams will hold a "throw-a-thon," in which the players will throw a ball continuously for 20 hours. Another athletic fundraiser is being planned in conjunction with the Chicago Area Runners Association Lakefront 10 Miler on April 24.

"Initially when the announcement was made, it was fairly tough on people emotionally," Grim said. "But it was the type of thing that quickly became a rallying point."

Luther North track-a-thon

What: Members of the Luther North track teams will run for 24 consecutive hours.